This article is part of the ’24-’25 Donor Yearbook & Annual Report. Click here to download the full report (PDF).
The mission of Humboldt Health Foundation (formerly the Union Labor Health Foundation), a supporting organization of HAF+WRCF, is to improve the health and well-being of the residents and communities of Humboldt County.
Our History
In Humboldt County during the early 1900s, workers who were injured on the job found the costs of care at local private hospitals financially devastating. By 1906, the newly unionized timber and mill workers of Eureka decided to start a hospital of their own; The Union Labor Hospital, a nonprofit organization which began in 1908 and later became General Hospital.
In 1997, the Union Labor Hospital Association sold the hospital and established the Union Labor Health Foundation, which has since awarded over $5 million to support community health efforts through organizational grants, funding partnerships, nursing scholarships and assistance to individuals for health and dental care. In 2018, we officially changed our name to the Humboldt Health Foundation.
The Board of Directors of the Humboldt Health Foundation is proud to carry on the tradition of helping people in our communities become healthier.
Our Approach
The Humboldt Health Foundation’s giving strategy supports several grant opportunities each year, including:
The Angel Fund
The Angel Fund provides fast financial assistance to Humboldt County families for health and medical needs. One hundred percent of donations made to this fund directly assist community members in need.
The Angel Fund Committee meets weekly to consider grant requests made on behalf of an individual or family, serving all ages, from infants to seniors.
The Children’s Dental Angel Fund
Donations made to the children’s Dental Angel Fund help Humboldt County children ages 0–19 receive sorely needed dental care. The fund assists children who are in pain due to dental decay, who are uninsured or can’t afford dental care, or who may need to travel out of the area to receive care from a dental specialist.
Community Health Grants
The Humboldt Health Foundation’s annual Community Health Grant supports programs and projects that enhance the physical and mental well-being of Humboldt County residents, improve the health of those who have experienced social or economic disadvantages, and create or support access and/or service delivery for under served and marginalized populations.
Committees for each grant round include dedicated board members, local health professionals, and community members, and are supported by HAF+WRCF staff.
Our Work & Impact
The Humboldt Health Foundation creates access to wellness and supports innovative local solutions to make Humboldt healthier. HHF has awarded over $5 million in grants to charitable organizations and projects, to nursing scholarships, and in assistance to community members for health and dental care since 1997.
Our Reach
Sanctuary Gardens Provide Nourishment, Medicinal Foods
Centro del Pueblo was the recipient of the 2024 Community Health Grant for their “Sanctuary Gardens” project. In the garden, they are growing healthy foods and medicinal plants to support the physical health of the Latinx and Indigenous migrant community and beyond. They also create opportunities for cultural exchange, expanding diversity, creating inclusivity, and above all, taking steps towards realizing a true sanctuary: a place of refuge for vulnerable communities in our region.
Culturally Centered Healthcare for Indigenous Youth and Families
A contribution was made to Two Feathers Native American Family Services in early 2025. This Tribally chartered nonprofit of Big Lagoon Rancheria provides comprehensive behavioral health services that affirm Native cultural practices through mental health counseling, substance use treatment, crisis intervention services, and youth leadership development and job readiness. All programs center on (re)connection to cultural knowledge and teachings as a crucial component of Indigenous wellness, with services available to all Native American youth and their families in Humboldt County. All programming is designed to fulfill their mission: “To empower Native American youth and their families to achieve their full potential by offering culturally affirming mental health and wellness programs in Humboldt County.”
Humboldt Health Foundation Board
- Valetta Molofsky, Board Chair
- Calla Peltier-Olson, Vice Chair
- Rose Francia, Treasurer
- Donna McQueen, Development Committee Chair
- and Children’s Dental Angel Fund Committee Chair
- Dr. Caterina Kein, Program Committee Chair
- Beth Wells, Angel Fund Committee Chair